Montezuma County Sheriff's Office

05/06/2026

📊 March Monthly Snapshot 📊
Here’s a look at some stats from the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office for April 1 - April 30.

As always, thank you for being part of our community and for your continued support in helping keep Montezuma County safe. 💙

Some notes about the data below:
• Total Calls for Service include all incidents dispatched to deputies, as well as those encountered while on patrol.
• Total Reports Written reflect incidents that required formal documentation. Not every call results in a report; many situations such as welfare checks, injured wildlife, civil matters, calls outside our jurisdiction, duplicate calls, or incidents where no crime occurred do not require a report.
• Arrests by MCSO Deputies represent individuals booked into our detention center by our patrol deputies.
• Total Inmates Booked and Released shows the number of individuals processed by our detention staff. This includes arrests from all agencies that utilize our jail, such as Cortez Police Department, Mancos Marshal’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, and Dolores County Sheriff’s Office.

We appreciate the hard work of our deputies and detention staff, and the trust and support of our community. 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️

Total Calls for Service: 1,311
Total Reports Written: 108
Assault Reports: 12
Burglary Reports: 6
Damaged Property Reports: 6
DUI Reports: 4
Fraud Reports: 3
Theft Reports: 9
Served Warrant/Court Remand: 23
Traffic Citations Issued: 20
Total Arrests Made by MCSO: 40
Total Inmates Booked In: 135
Total Inmates Released: 136

— Thank you from Sheriff Nowlin and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office

05/05/2026

⚠️ Community Scam Alert ⚠️

The Sheriff’s Office wants to make residents aware of even more scams that have recently been reported in our county:

🔳 QR Code Phishing Scam (“Quishing”)
Scammers are placing fake QR codes on flyers, in public places, or even sticker QR codes over legitimate codes (like at parking meters, EV charging stations, or restaraunt menus). When scanned, these codes can direct you to fraudulent websites designed to steal your personal, financial, or login information.

📦 Suspicious Package Scam ("Brushing")
Residents have reported receiving multiple identical packages, empty packages, or items they never ordered in the mail. These packages may come from unknown senders and sometimes include instructions encouraging you to scan a QR code or visit a link.

🚫 What you should do:
• Do not scan QR codes from unknown or unverified sources
• Be cautious of any unexpected packages, especially repeated or empty deliveries
• Never enter personal or payment information from a link or QR code you don’t trust
• Verify purchases directly with retailers using official websites or customer service

📱
• Report suspicious QR codes in our community to dispatch, 970-565-8454
• Report suspicious packages in the mail to the U.S. Postal Instpection Service, 1-877-876-2455
• Report unsolicited packages to the seller platform (Eg. Amazon, eBay)

⚠️ Scammers rely on curiosity and urgency, please take a moment to verify before you act.

Stay vigilant and help us keep our community safe.

05/05/2026

May 3-9, 2026, we recognize National Correctional Officers Week, a time to honor the men and women who serve in one of the most challenging and often overlooked professions.

National Correctional Officers Week was officially established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan through Proclamation 5187, recognizing the vital and often dangerous work performed by jail and prison staff across the country.

We would like to extend our appreciation to our Montezuma County Sheriff's Office Detention Deputies for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to maintaining safety and order within our facility. Their work requires resilience, integrity, and a strong sense of duty every single day.

We also recognize correctional officers everywhere for the important role they play in our justice system.

Thank you for your hard work and service.

05/04/2026

Today, we recognize International Firefighters’ Day 🚒

We extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated men and women who serve as firefighters in Montezuma County and across the world.

We are proud to work alongside our local fire agencies and appreciate their continued partnership and service.

Please join us in honoring and thanking all firefighters for their sacrifice and dedication.

Cortez Fire Protection District, Lewis-Arriola Volunteer Fire Department, Ute Mountain Ute Fire Department, Dolores Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department, West Fork Volunteer Fire Department, Mancos Volunteer Fire & Rescue

05/02/2026

🔥 Wildfire Preparedness Day 🔥

After an extremely dry winter in our area, wildfire risk is higher than usual, and now is the time to take action to protect your home, animals, and loved ones. Small steps today can make a big difference tomorrow.

If an evacuation order is issued, The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and Montezuma County Emergency Manager will provide clear instructions on check-in locations and shelter options for people, pets, and livestock.

🏡 Around Your Home:
• Firewood piles can ignite from wildfire embers and then ignite your home. Keep piles at least 30 feet away from buildings.
• Clear needles, leaves, and other debris from roofs, gutters, porches, and decks.
• Remove all flammable outdoor items from decks and porches (cushions, door mats, portable propane tanks, etc).
• Dispose of debris and lawn cuttings to reduce fuel for a wildfire.
• Keep a 5-foot zone around your home free of vegetation and mulch. Stone or gravel are safer options.
• Keep lawns mowed and hydrated. Dry grass and shrubs ignite easily.

🐾 For Your Animals:
• Make a plan to have livestock ready for a potential wildfire evacuation.
• Pets are part of the family, be sure your evacuation plans include them too.

🎒 Be Ready to Go:
• Prepare a go bag with essential items like medications, first aid kit, important documents, water, personal hygiene products, extra clothes, and essential pet supplies so you can leave quickly if needed.
• Plan two ways out of your neighborhood and designate a meeting place before a wildfire threatens your area.

Preparedness saves lives. Learn more and stay ready: www.wildfireprepday.org

05/01/2026

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month 🏍️

As the weather warms up, more motorcycles are out on our roads. This month is a reminder for everyone to share the road safely and stay alert.

Throughout the month of May, we’ll be sharing safety tips for both drivers and motorcyclists to help keep everyone safe.

Drivers:
• Look twice for motorcycles, especially at intersections
• Give motorcycles plenty of space
• Always check blind spots before changing lanes
• Drive sober and follow all traffic laws

Motorcyclists:
• Wear proper safety gear, including a helmet
• Stay visible, use lights and bright clothing
• Ride sober and follow all traffic laws

Motorcycles are smaller and can be harder to see, but every rider is someone’s family member, friend, or neighbor. A little extra awareness can save lives.

Let’s work together to keep Montezuma County roads (and all roads) safe this May and beyond.

04/30/2026

Public Service Announcement: Scam Calls Impersonating Law Enforcement

The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of another recent scam targeting members of our community.

A local resident reported receiving a phone call from an individual claiming to be a deputy with the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office. The caller initially contacted the victim from a “No Caller ID” number, then stated they would call back from the Sheriff’s Office main line, (970) 565-8452, to prove their legitimacy. The victim did, in fact, receive a second call that appeared to come from that official number.

This is a known tactic. Scammers are able to “spoof” or clone legitimate phone numbers, making it appear as though the call is coming from a trusted source—even law enforcement.

During the call, the individual identified himself as “Sergeant Dean Howard” and claimed the victim had active warrants for Failure to Appear and Contempt of Court. The caller instructed the victim that she needed to pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest and specifically directed her not to come to the Sheriff’s Office, stating she would be taken into custody if she did. Instead, the victim was told to make payment electronically.

This is not how the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office conducts business, and we do not have a Sergeant Dean Howard.

• Law enforcement will not call and demand payment to resolve a warrant.
• You will not be instructed to avoid coming to the Sheriff’s Office.
• Legitimate court matters are handled through the courts—not by immediate payment over the phone or online under threat of arrest.

If you receive a call like this, do not provide any personal or financial information and do not send money. Hang up and contact the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office directly at (970) 565-8452 to verify the information.

We encourage everyone to share this information with family, friends, and neighbors—particularly those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams.

04/30/2026

Keep an eye out for this scam. As always, do not scan any QR code, do not give out any personal information, and be alert!

**SCAM ALERT** If you have received the following photo or one similar, this is a scam, and not an official document. Do not scan the QR code or give away any personal/payment information.

04/30/2026

🚨Warrant Wednesday (On a Thursday this week) - Featuring Ronald Whatley, and Talon Zwicker

Ronald Whatley has two active Failure to Appear warrants. One with the charge of Assault 3-Know/Reckless Cause Injury (M1), and the other with the charge of Violation of Protection Order-Criminal (M1). Both warrants are his 2nd failure to appear warrants for their respective cases.

5/1/2026 Update: Talon Zwicker has been arrested on his warrant.
Talon Zwicker has an active original warrant for Assault 3-Know/Reckless Cause Injury (M1).

If you have current information on these individuals, please call the non-emergent dispatch number at 970-565-8454, and do not attempt to apprehend or harm them if seen.

04/30/2026

Sometimes alcohol can lead to unintended consequences, and when it comes to sexual encounters, consent should always be clear.

Consent means a mutual, clear agreement to engage in any sexual activity. It’s about setting and respecting boundaries, and it can be withdrawn at any time.

A few key reminders:
• No one can give consent if they are incapacitated by drugs or alcohol
• Consent to one activity doesn’t mean consent to others
• Agreements and boundaries (like using protection) must be respected
• Anyone can change their mind at any point

Alcohol and drugs don’t automatically mean someone can’t consent, but they can make it harder to communicate and recognize boundaries. When in doubt, pause and check in.

If someone is disoriented, struggling to move, or unconscious, they cannot give consent. Engaging in sexual activity in those situations is sexual assault.

Even in relationships, consent still matters, every time.

When alcohol or drugs are involved, the best thing you can do is communicate clearly, check in often, and respect each other’s boundaries.

04/30/2026

Update 4/30/26: The family has confirmed she contacted her mother from a private number to say she is safe and heading home, and her photos have been removed from our post to protect her privacy.

A 17‑year‑old Indigenous girl, Shaylin R. Odell, was reported missing on April 28th, 2026, after several days with no contact, and missed school and appointments. She has been entered into NCIC/CCIC as a missing Indigenous juvenile. Anyone with information is urged to use the anonymous Crimewatch 'Submit A Tip' feature or call/text 911. (CortezPD.org or mobile app)